Child killer Terri-Lynne McClintic transferred from healing lodge to Edmonton prison

Child killer Terri-Lynne McClintichas been transferred from an Indigenous healing lodge to an Edmonton prison for women.

McClintic, who is serving a life sentence for the brutal rape and murder ofToriStafford, 8, of Woodstock, Ont., was transferredfrom the Grand Valley Institution for Women near Kitchener, Ont., to theOkimawOhciHealing Lodge for Aboriginal Women onNekaneetFirst Nation in southern Saskatchewan.

McClintic's transfer back to a conventional prison was confirmed forCBC News by Tori's father, Rodney Stafford.

"It's been a long time waiting. It's very good news," he said in an interview.

"It's about time. It shouldn't take two months to correct a mistake."

He posted a message on Facebook praising the development.

The transfer to the lodge sparked public outrage, protests and divisive political debate.

Alberta Conservative MP Glen Motz said the victim's family and all Canadians could have been spared the drawn-out, painful debate had the government actedimmediately to overturn the transfer decision.

"What's disappointing is instead of taking decisive action when she was transferred, or when they became aware of the transfer, they deflected, they dodged, they hid behind their officials in process, until they were humiliated into doing the right thing," he said.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodalehas insisted he has no legal power to intervene in individual cases, and has argued that those decisions must be left to the professional bureaucrats who make decisions about correctional and security classifications based on what is best for the offender's rehabilitation and for public safety.

'Justice is finally being served,' says Scheer

6 years ago

Duration 0:59

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says the decision to transfer child killer Terri-Lynne McClintic to an Edmonton prison from a healing lodge would not have happened without his party pushing for the move.

A memo from the assistant deputy attorney general for three federal departments Public Safety, Defence and Immigration provided to CBCNews says the minister can give directives on strategy objectives, priorities and goals, but his delegates have statutory authority over specific directives on particular cases.

Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheercredited opposition and public pressure for the transfer.

"Justice has finally been served because of you, the thousands of Canadians who let their voices be heard," he said during an event in Brampton, Ont. "Because of the opposition pressure, the Liberals have finally backed down and taken action."

On Wednesday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale ordered Correctional Service Canadatoimprove policies related to transfers of "medium-security women offenders to facilities that do not have a directly controlled perimeter."

Under that new policy, transfers must be authorized by CSC's deputy commissioner for women, who will be required to ensure that Indigenous communities are engaged in transfer recommendations.

Factors in evaluating transfers to facilities without a controlled perimeter include:

• Length of an offender's sentence.
• Time remaining before an offender is eligible for an Unescorted Temporary Absence.
• A requirement that long term offenders be at least into the "preparation for release" phase of their correctional plan.
• Institutional behaviour, for those serving long sentences.

Edmonton Institution for Women is a multi-level facility withminimum, mediumand maximum security wings.

According to the Correctional Service Canada website, ithas "a minimum security residential-style apartment unit and residential-style small group accommodation houses for minimum and medium-security inmates in an open campus design model."

Intense political debate

News of McClintic's transfer comes after fraught political debate. The Conservatives tabled a motion demanding the Liberal government condemn the decision to transfer her to a healing lodge, and to overturn it.

During the emotional Oct. 3debate on the motion, Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of making "excuses" to avoid sending McClintic back to a conventional prison.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in response, called the Conservatives "ambulance-chasing politicians" who show a contempt for the principles of law.

Scheer says Liberals 'politicizing' Stafford story

6 years ago

Duration 3:07

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer's question prompted Green Party Leader Elizabeth May to say he deserves a 'hyprocrite of the year award.'

On Thursday, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheerdemanded Trudeau apologize for politicizing the issue. Trudeau did not, and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May suggested Scheerwould qualify for a "hypocrite of the year award for parliamentarians."

McClinticis not eligible for parole until 2031.

With files from the CBC's Kate Dubinski